Rochester Amerks' Hackett vows to stay cool

Rochester Americans coach Chadd Cassidy said he plans to discuss with Matt Hackett on Wednesday the goalie's inability to control his temper on the ice the past two weekends.

Hackett, of course, is well aware that a meeting with the coaching staff would be on this week's agenda.

He piled up 16 minutes in penalties during a 5-1 loss at Syracuse on Oct. 12, and then was taken out of what became a 6-4 home victory over Utica on Saturday because he was assessed another unsportsmanlike conduct minor.

"I'm not a violent guy," Hackett said following Tuesday's optional practice at the Bill Gray's Regional Iceplex at MCC. "I'll learn from it and I'll fix it."

That there is suddenly a concern about his on-ice behavior isn't cause for alarm — yet.

Cassidy says whichever goalie plays must show composure, and that he won't tolerate penalties taken out of anger or frustration that end up leaving the Amerks short-handed.

In Syracuse, Hackett was assessed minors for roughing, diving and unsportsmanlike conduct in the second period and then was ejected with 20 seconds to play for complaining about a call involving Crunch goalie Riku Helenius. That lack of anger management by Hackett played into Cassidy's decision to start Nathan Lieuwen for the first time on Friday against the Toronto Marlies. Lieuwen made 36 saves in a 4-1 win.

Hackett, 23, started on Saturday and was playing well, especially considering he faced 32 shots in the first two periods.

But he lost his cool after Zach Hamill scored with 1:46 remaining in the second period. The goal cut the Amerks lead to 4-3. Afterward Hamill appeared to taunt Hackett who in turn, somewhat nonchalantly, poked Hamill in the jaw or head with the butt-end of his stick.

"I felt like I was doing well, I was seeing the puck," he said, "until I just freaked out and did that stupid mistake.

"He may have said something I didn't like, but I can't do that. It was a stupid penalty by me. It won't happen again."

Referee Darcy Burchell was standing just a few feet away and immediately signaled a minor penalty. "It was well deserved," Cassidy said.

Cassidy decided additional punishment would be justified, too. When the third period began, Lieuwen was in goal and Hackett was on the bench.

"I don't know if he's feeling extra pressure this year," Cassidy said. "We know how good a goaltender he is and he's got to understand how important he's going to be to this team."

Cassidy didn't reveal his starter for this weekend's two road games — at Hamilton at 7:30 p.m. Friday and at Toronto at 5 p.m. Saturday.

"We've given him a couple days and we'll sit down with him (Wednesday) and go over what our plan is and see where he's at," Cassidy said.

Through four starts Hackett is 1-2 with a 4.59 goals-against average and .885 save percentage. He was obtained by the Buffalo Sabres on April 3 from the Minnesota Wild in the Jason Pominville trade.

In his three previous American Hockey League seasons, Hackett posted a 65-53-13 record with a 2.45 GAA and .915 save percentage with the Houston Aeros (that includes three games with the Amerks, when he went 3-0 and allowed just five goals).

"Wins and losses matter, that's all I care about," Hackett said. "I've always believed if you look at stats too much you'll start panicking and never get back to the level you were at."